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Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) vs. Union Pacific (UNP)

This page compares Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) with Union Pacific (UNP) using historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation metrics.

Company Profile

Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) and Union Pacific (UNP) are both classified in the Rail Transportation sub-industry within the broader Ground Transportation industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

SymbolCPUNP
Company NameCanadian Pacific Kansas City LimitedUnion Pacific Corporation
Country/RegionCanadaUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupTransportationTransportation
GICS IndustryGround TransportationGround Transportation
GICS Sub-IndustryRail TransportationRail Transportation
Market Capitalization76.46 billion USD161.23 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateDecember 30, 1983January 2, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Historical Performance

CP
UNP
Loading price history…
Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Historical Performance at a Glance

SymbolCPUNP
5-Day Price Return0.91%3.59%
13-Week Price Return2.78%5.54%
26-Week Price Return17.58%22.89%
52-Week Price Return2.83%18.89%
Month-to-Date Return-0.96%2.10%
Year-to-Date Return15.78%18.94%
10-Day Avg. Volume1.22M2.51M
3-Month Avg. Volume1.53M3.26M
3-Month Volatility23.74%23.92%
Beta0.911.01

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

Union Pacific (UNP) at 40.38% ranks in the top quartile for Return on Equity (TTM), ahead of Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) at 8.85%, which sits closer to the industry mid-range.

CP

Transportation industry group

8.85%

Max
49.96%
Q3
24.84%
Median
14.64%
Q1
3.88%
Min
-6.75%

UNP

Transportation industry group

40.38%

Max
49.96%
Q3
24.84%
Median
14.64%
Q1
3.88%
Min
-6.75%
Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

Both Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) at 27.21% and Union Pacific (UNP) at 29.20% rank in the top quartile for Net Profit Margin (TTM) among industry peers, indicating both companies convert revenue into net income more strongly than typical competitors.

CP

Transportation industry group

27.21%

Max
43.82%
Q3
19.90%
Median
6.87%
Q1
1.71%
Min
-9.62%

UNP

Transportation industry group

29.20%

Max
43.82%
Q3
19.90%
Median
6.87%
Q1
1.71%
Min
-9.62%
Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

Both Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) at 37.04% and Union Pacific (UNP) at 40.21% rank in the top quartile for Operating Profit Margin (TTM) among industry peers, indicating both companies convert revenue into operating income more strongly than typical competitors.

CP

Transportation industry group

37.04%

Max
47.61%
Q3
23.60%
Median
8.44%
Q1
3.22%
Min
-10.15%

UNP

Transportation industry group

40.21%

Max
47.61%
Q3
23.60%
Median
8.44%
Q1
3.22%
Min
-10.15%
Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Profitability at a Glance

SymbolCPUNP
Return on Equity (TTM)8.85%40.38%
Return on Assets (TTM)4.72%10.43%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)27.21%29.20%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)37.04%40.21%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)85.42%79.36%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Union Pacific (UNP) at 0.92 keeps Current Ratio (MRQ) within its industry mid-range, while Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) at 0.67 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for CP.

CP

Transportation industry group

0.67

Max
2.08
Q3
1.57
Median
1.10
Q1
0.70
Min
0.36

UNP

Transportation industry group

0.92

Max
2.08
Q3
1.57
Median
1.10
Q1
0.70
Min
0.36
Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) at 0.52 carries Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) around its industry mid-range, while Union Pacific (UNP) at 1.58 sits in the higher-leverage quartile.

CP

Transportation industry group

0.52

Max
2.69
Q3
1.41
Median
0.73
Q1
0.30
Min
0.00

UNP

Transportation industry group

1.58

Max
2.69
Q3
1.41
Median
0.73
Q1
0.30
Min
0.00
Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

Both Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) at 11.36 and Union Pacific (UNP) at 8.00 post Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on interest-coverage headroom.

CP

Transportation industry group

11.36

Max
21.71
Q3
11.36
Median
5.75
Q1
1.63
Min
-4.33

UNP

Transportation industry group

8.00

Max
21.71
Q3
11.36
Median
5.75
Q1
1.63
Min
-4.33
Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolCPUNP
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.670.92
Quick Ratio (MRQ)0.570.73
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)0.521.58
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)11.368.00

Growth

Revenue Growth

Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

Revenue Growth at a Glance

SymbolCPUNP
Revenue Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)-2.48%3.15%
Revenue Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)1.10%1.87%
3-Year Revenue CAGR19.60%-0.49%
5-Year Revenue CAGR14.36%4.64%

EPS Growth

Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth at a Glance

SymbolCPUNP
EPS Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)-3.20%6.08%
EPS Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)8.79%9.44%
3-Year EPS CAGR6.20%2.22%
5-Year EPS CAGR4.67%8.75%

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Union Pacific (UNP) at 1.99% reports Dividend Yield (TTM) in the top quartile of industry peers, ahead of Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) at 0.79%, which sits around the industry mid-range.

CP

Transportation industry group

0.79%

Max
4.01%
Q3
1.77%
Median
0.81%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

UNP

Transportation industry group

1.99%

Max
4.01%
Q3
1.77%
Median
0.81%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) at 20.19% and Union Pacific (UNP) at 45.10% maintain Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) around their industries’ median — balanced dividend policy on both sides, returning cash while leaving part of reported earnings available for reinvestment or balance-sheet flexibility.

CP

Transportation industry group

20.19%

Max
112.14%
Q3
47.86%
Median
15.73%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

UNP

Transportation industry group

45.10%

Max
112.14%
Q3
47.86%
Median
15.73%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend at a Glance

SymbolCPUNP
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.79%1.99%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)20.19%45.10%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

Both Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) at 25.48 and Union Pacific (UNP) at 22.65 post Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) near the typical industry midpoint — neither company stands out strongly from peers on trailing earnings multiple.

CP

Transportation industry group

25.48

Max
68.67
Q3
39.12
Median
22.03
Q1
12.85
Min
1.75

UNP

Transportation industry group

22.65

Max
68.67
Q3
39.12
Median
22.03
Q1
12.85
Min
1.75
Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

Both Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) at 6.93 and Union Pacific (UNP) at 6.61 sit above their industries’ benchmark ranges for Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM), pointing to unusually high trailing revenue multiples relative to peers.

CP

Transportation industry group

6.93

Max
5.87
Q3
2.82
Median
1.48
Q1
0.70
Min
0.14

UNP

Transportation industry group

6.61

Max
5.87
Q3
2.82
Median
1.48
Q1
0.70
Min
0.14
Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) at 2.11 carries typical industry Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ), while Union Pacific (UNP) at 7.42 sits in the higher-multiple quartile — UNP carries a higher book-value multiple relative to peers.

CP

Transportation industry group

2.11

Max
9.25
Q3
4.77
Median
2.14
Q1
1.36
Min
0.45

UNP

Transportation industry group

7.42

Max
9.25
Q3
4.77
Median
2.14
Q1
1.36
Min
0.45
Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Valuation at a Glance

SymbolCPUNP
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)25.4822.65
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)6.936.61
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)2.117.42
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)50.8428.67